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May 2016

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Community Builders

Not Just a Nurse By Dawn Paul The month of May celebrates nursing, one of the most respected professions. PAGE 6

Tiffany Davis,

RN-BSN, MSN, CNE President & CEO of E-PIC Training Center, Inc.

PAGES 16-24

It’s Okay to Get Help - the Taboo of Talking About It By Rhonda Dallas When I was growing up in Chicago, Illinois, there was always a friend who had a relative who never came out of the room, and we were always afraid to go back there.

The d-mars.com Health & Wellness Journal and E-PIC Training Center, Inc. Celebrate Nurses for the Month of May

PAGE 10

PAGE 5 PAGE 4

Sisters Network Inc. Annual Stop the Silence Walk

Lasting Impressions Dental Group Hosts Annual Free Dental Day

Strengthening for Seniors By Dr. Sterling L. Carter Muscular strength is a muscle’s ability to generate force. PAGE 12

The very first requirement in a hospital is that it should do the sick no harm. - Florence Nightingale

May 2016 3

Journal Behind The

Message from the Co-Publishers Publisher

MR. D-MARS Co-Publisher

Tiffany Davis, RN-BSN, MSN, CNE

SR. PUBLISHER Keith J. Davis, Sr.

CO-PUBLISHER

Tiffany Davis, RN-BSN, MSN, CNE

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Kevin Davis

VICE PRESIDENT Kim Floyd

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Dawn Paul

ACCOUNTING MANAGER Eugenie Doualla

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES C.T. Foster Eric D. Goodwine Tiffany Black

“Community Builders” is the theme for this issue of the d-mars.com Health & Wellness Journal. National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th, Florence Nightingale’s birthday. At d-mars.com, we understand the great contributions that nurses make in the health care profession. The theme for National Nurses Week in 2016 is “Culture of Safety: It Starts with YOU.” The healthcare industry depends on nurses to serve for the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities; prevention of illness and injury; alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human responses; and advocacy in health care for individuals, families, communities, and populations. The d-mars.com Health & Wellness Journal and E-PIC Training Center, Inc. are excited to celebrate nurses not only for one week, but to expand our celebration for the entire month of May. We salute you nurses! As always, thank you for your continued support of d-mars.com. When you support us, you are supporting more than just our company; you are supporting the communities in which we live and work. Working together, we can succeed in making positive things happen.

Contents

PHOTOGRAPHY L.C. Poullard Grady Carter Tony Gaines

MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR Andrea Hennekes

LAYOUT & GRAPHIC DESIGNER Angel Rosa

DISTRIBUTION Booker T. Davis, Jr. Rockie Hayden

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Rhonda Dallas, B.S., C.L.C., N.C. Dr. Sterling L. Carter, PT, DPT, MS, CSCS ScienceDaily The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center National Eye Institute Mental Health America d-mars.com News Provider

Continuing to Raise Breast Cancer Awareness........................................................................................................................................................................ 4 Helping Build a Healthier Houston.................................................................................................................................................................................................5 Not Just a Nurse...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................6 Celebrate Your Sight........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 This Year, Skip the Perfume............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 8 It’s Okay to Get Help..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................10 Novel Gene Alteration........................................................................................................................................................................................................................10 Concussion Outcomes........................................................................................................................................................................................................................11 Strengthening for Seniors...............................................................................................................................................................................................................12 Nursing Shortage Creates Career Opportunities.....................................................................................................................................................................12 Healthy Lunch Ideas..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................14 Celebrating National Nurses Week 2016...............................................................................................................................................................................16-24 5 Ways to Revamp Your Run..........................................................................................................................................................................................................26 Coping with the Stress of Natural Disasters...........................................................................................................................................................................26 Legal, Policy Changes.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................28 First Computer Program..................................................................................................................................................................................................................28 A Better Way to Manage Type 2 Diabetes.................................................................................................................................................................................30 Certified Coders..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................30 Cervical Cancer Screening Saves Women’s Lives...................................................................................................................................................................34 The Promise of Immunotherapy....................................................................................................................................................................................................36

MR. D-MARS Tip of the Month “To make our way, we must have firm resolve, persistence, tenacity. We must gear ourselves to work hard all the way. We can never let up.” — Ralph Bunche

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May 2016

Continuing to Raise Breast Cancer Awareness By Dawn Paul

Associate Editor

isters Network Inc. (SNI) is committed to increasing local and national attention to the devastating impact that breast cancer has in the African American community. The organization’s purpose is to save lives and provide a broader scope of knowledge that addresses the breast cancer survivorship crisis affecting African American women around the country. SNI, founded by Karen Eubanks Jackson in 1994, is a leading voice and the only national African American breast cancer survivorship organization in the United States. SNI is governed by an elected Board of Directors and assisted by an appointed Medical Advisory Committee. Membership is 3,000, which includes more than 40 affiliate survivor run chapters nationwide. As a nationally recognized organization among leading medical establishments and breast cancer physicians, SNI is also recognized as a critical information resource for African American women. Jackson is a well-known and respected figure in Houston and around the nation for her continuous efforts through SNI. A breast cancer survivor, she has been working diligently at the helm of this country’s only African American breast cancer survivorship organization. SNI is necessary and relevant not only to Houston and the surrounding areas, but the nation, because it addresses the needs particular to African American women. Though SNI is an organization, it is known by many as a movement, helping to ensure that African American women diagnosed with breast cancer receive quality medical care and social support. In addition to its other initiatives to continue its mission to

bring local and national attention to the impact that breast cancer has on the African American community, SNI recently held its annual Stop the Silence Walk. SNI’s annual Stop the Silence Walk recently brought Houstonians together to raise awareness for breast cancer among African American women. Mayor Sylvester Turner and other elected officials and community leaders were in attendance. The Stop the Silence Walk will continue to be an annual Houston tradition, raising awareness and encouraging the community to get involved in the fight against breast cancer. Jackson formed SNI to provide education, programs, hope, support, and empowerment to women of color. SNI is helping to create a healthier Houston by addressing the breast health needs of African American women with their initiatives and programs. SNI’s Breast Cancer Assistance Program (BCAP) provides services to women facing financial challenges. The great thing about BCAP is that it also provides

free mammograms to those who qualify. With over 40 affiliate chapters of SNI, they are able to provide support to African American women across the nation. SNI has other programs and initiatives for breast cancer awareness, and its annual Stop the Silence Walk is one of those necessary initiatives. SNI is the voice in the African American women’s fight against breast cancer.

To read more about Sisters Network Inc., please visit www.sistersnetwork inc.org. Also, for more information about breast cancer, please visit www. cancer.org.

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May 2016 5

Helping Build a Healthier Houston By Dawn Paul

Associate Editor

he theme for this month’s d-mars.com Health & Wellness Journal is “Community Builders.” Dr. Alison Scott Cuillier is one of the premier dental professionals known in Houston and the surrounding areas. Through Lasting Impressions Dental Group, PLLC (Lasting Impressions), she, along with her staff, use their compassion, skill, and extensive expertise to give back, making for a healthier Houston. Recently, Lasting Impressions partnered with Awesome Angels Inc. for their annual Free Dental Day event, providing quality dental care to those in need. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), 100 million Americans fail to see a dentist each year. There are many in our community who fall into this category, because they cannot afford dental insurance and do not have access to quality dental care. This makes them vulnerable to dental disease. Because this is a problem many face in our city, Lasting Impressions is addressing this need. Regular dental visits are vital for the maintenance of healthy gums and teeth. The American Dental Association recommends you make regular

visits to the dentist each year. During these checkups, the dentist or dental hygienist evaluates gum health, performs a head and neck examination, and examines your mouth for any indications of oral cancer, diabetes or vitamin deficiencies. By seeing your dentist on a regular basis and following daily good oral hygiene practices at home, you are more likely to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Despite this recommendation from the American Dental Association and dentists, many in our community cannot make regular visits to a dentist. Lasting Impressions saw a way to address this health crisis by providing those in need with a day of quality dental care at no cost to them. Free Dental Day is a way for Lasting Impressions to give back and make for a healthier Houston. Lasting Impressions offers exceptional service in the area of oral health to members in our community. By partnering with Awesome Angels Inc., their exceptional dental services have been made available to a great number of those who lack dental insurance. For more on the American Dental Association, please visit www.ada.org. For more information about Lasting Impressions Dental Group, PLLC, please visit www.lastingimpressionsdentalgroup.com.

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May 2016

Not Just a Nurse By Dawn Paul

Associate Editor

he month of May celebrates nursing, one of the most respected professions. Nurses, believe it or not, over the past few years, seem to have started to receive the recognition and national attention that they deserve. They are the backbone of the healthcare industry. Many would also agree that they are at the heart of a patient’s healing process. Nurses are a very valuable asset, for without, the healthcare industry and patients would suffer. When talking to nurses there is one common response I seem to hear. “Nursing is truly my calling,” they all say. Nursing is not just a job, but a calling, a purpose, and a gift. Last year, the #NotJustANurse hashtag was trending on social media, and the ‘Not Just a Nurse’ phrase gained national attention after Kelley Johnson, the 2015 Miss America contestant (Miss Colorado) highlighted her nursing profession for her talent part of the competition, and spoke candidly and sincerely about her career as a nurse. Though nursing has always been important, this expanded the platform for nurses, highlighting all of the things that nurses are to patients. They are more than someone who draws blood and checks charts, but they are so much more.

Below Read Rasmussen College’s List of 8 Reasons Why a Nurse is Not ‘Just a Nurse’ I’m not just a nurse, I’m an educator - For nurses, a crucial part of the job is educating patients and their families on their diagnosis. A nurse teaches patients how to manage their symptoms and explains treatment options. “A nurse is an educator every day. They teach patients about the signs and symptoms of disease process, medications and how to advocate for themselves,” explains Elizabeth Halbert, RN, BSN, BA and Clinical Supervisor with MJHS Home Care. I’m not just a nurse, I’m a bridgebuilder - As the frontline of care, nurses hold a great responsibility to provide the best possible care to their patients while embodying their healthcare organization’s values and mission. “Nurses have the difficult responsibility of holding an organization’s vision and financial imperative while advocating for a patient’s best interest,” says Nicole Nash-Arnold, R.N. and nurse manager. She explains that business and healthcare don’t always go hand-in-hand, so it can be challenging for nurses to build that bridge between the two. I’m not just a nurse, I’m a counselor - Nurses tending to the bedside get the privilege of building relationships with patients that physicians and other healthcare workers rarely get to experi-

ence. To many patients and their families, a nurse is their lifeline to the entire workings of the healthcare facility. By answering questions and listening to concerns, a nurse acts as an ambassador for a patient. “I think a nurse is most like a counselor in terms of the need to listen,” Halbert says. She believes listening and asking the right questions can help the patient or family member decide on the best path to healing. I’m not just a nurse, I’m a chemical catalyst - Nurses aren’t always just the middle man between the doctor and the patient. They have vast medical knowledge, with extremely technical specialties that are critical to the healthcare system. A nurse anesthetist, for example, must select powerful drugs with immediate effects on organs, cells and electrons, according to Nick Angelis, CRNA, MSN and author. “Rather than just using theory like a pharmacist or writing orders for others to carry out as a physician would, I’m intimately involved with every breath and heartbeat my patients make — or that I make for them,” he explains. I’m not just a nurse, I’m an advocate - “Nurses are definitely patient advocates and are often the strongest one for the patient because their relationship and time with the patient is often different than it is with a doctor,” Halbert says. All of the time nurses spend with their patients allows them to get a good grasp on their conditions. It’s not uncommon for them to step in on their patient’s behalf when recommend-

ing care plans to physicians or surgeons. Advocacy is so essential to nursing that some nurses make a career of it as a nurse advocate. I’m not just a nurse, I’m a confidant - Not only do nurses have a lot on their plates, but they also must carry the burden of upholding the privacy of their patients. Nurses must abide to strict privacy laws, maintaining the confidentiality and dignity of the patient. “Due to HIPAA rules I keep ALL of your healthcare information private and only share what needs to be shared,” says Michelle Katz, LPN, MSN and author. She admits this is one of the more difficult aspects of her job, especially as a mental health nurse. There are times when you have to break that trust if you believe a patient may harm themselves or someone else. I’m not just a nurse, I’m an interpreter - Decipher a patient’s symptoms and transcribe them in the medical records? Check. Translate technical doctor-speak into understandable layman’s terms for the patient? Check. Plus even more translating in the healthcare setting for some nurses. Halbert echoes the importance of interpreting medical jargon, intricate instructions and complex symptoms into everyday language. On top of that, nurses must be able to decipher complicated health plans and access. I’m not just a nurse, I’m a friend Patients enter the hospital to be cared for by a nurse. But it’s not just the physical care they receive that matters – the emotional support they receive from

a nurse can make a world of difference. “Sometimes patients don’t just need health care, they need emotional care and support,” says Rasmussen College nursing student Hannah Jury-Fleming. She confesses it can be easy to get caught up in your routine as a nurse, but going the extra mile for your patients and truly getting to know them can have a huge impact. We’ve all seen the hit movie, “Meet the Parents,” where Ben Stiller plays a male nurse trying to impress the family of his fiancé. In the film there were a few digs at him being a male nurse and not a doctor. Though it was a comedy, there are some that share that small-minded sentiment about nursing. A nursing student shared with me that in her country, a nurse is not looked at with the same high regard as a doctor. In this country, she was absolutely amazed at how nurses in America are looked at with such high regard and respect. It really amazes me when people refer to a nurse or someone in any profession as “just this,” or “just that.” The month of May is a perfect time to really look at all the benefits that nurses bring. A nurse is more than someone who brings water, draws blood, and checks charts. Though those things are needed, a nurse does so much more. Their training is rigorous and demanding, helping them obtain the medical knowledge a doctor receives, allowing them to properly help treat patients. Nurses are truly special. Source Used: www.rasmussen.edu

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May 2016

Celebrate Your Sight!

o you have any big plans for your birthday? Do you dream of taking a trip to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower lit up at night, or taking that cruise vacation you’re always talking about, or perhaps making it to the family reunion this year to catch up with Cousin Gene? It’s exciting to make plans for fun trips. Now, imagine making plans if you were slowly losing your sight. African Americans are at higher risk for eye problems, and they’re at risk at an earlier age. Many eye diseases and conditions have no early warning signs, but only about 10 percent of people know this. That’s why it’s important to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam.

What’s a comprehensive dilated eye exam? In this type of exam, an eye care provider will put drops in your eyes to widen, or dilate, your pupils and will examine your retina and optic nerve to look for signs of damage and other eye problems. Tonometry: Measures

eye pressure. Elevated pressure is a possible sign of glaucoma. Visual field test: Measures any loss of side (peripheral) vision, which is a sign of glaucoma. Visual acuity test: Measures how well you see at various distances. Vision loss from eye disease can often be prevented, but lost vision usually cannot be restored.

This Year, Skip the Perfume

ou’re the apple of her eye, her shining star. This year for Mother’s Day, when you think of gifts, think differently. Instead of giving the ladies in your life their favorite fragrance, do something new. Consider these three ways to make the day memorable and meaningful:

Happy birthday, healthy eyes!

Go for a walk in the park.

This year, as you celebrate another birthday, think about celebrating your sight. Make your eye health a priority and get a comprehensive dilated eye exam. And when you make the family reunion, make sure Cousin Gene has one scheduled, too. Learn more about dilated eye exams at www.nei.nih.gov/healthyeyes. Visit www.nei.nih.gov/nehep for more information.

Plan to take a walk at a local park: it’s a great way to keep active. The National Eye Institute recommends maintaining a healthy weight to keep eyes healthy. Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing diabetes and other conditions that can lead to vision loss, such as diabetic eye disease or macular degeneration.

Enjoy a healthy brunch.

Whether you decide to whip it up yourself or plan on taking her to a great restaurant, be sure she makes food choices that include leafy green veggies, which can help to keep eyes healthy. Research has also shown there are eye health benefits from eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, and halibut.

Schedule an eye exam. There’s no substitute for the quality of life that good vision offers. In advance of Mother’s Day, be sure to schedule a comprehensive dilated eye exam for her. As we age, we are at increased risk for eye diseases and conditions such as diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. Many diseases have no early warning signs but can be detected through a comprehensive dilated eye exam. Give her a gift that will help her see her best and be her best. Early detection and treatment can help prevent vision loss. For more information on eye health, visit www. nei.nih.gov/healthyeyes.

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May 2016

It’s Okay to Get Help - the Taboo of Talking About It some staggering statistics about the condition of our mental health according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health.

Whites. Steps to Maintaining a Positive Mental Health State • Pray and meditate day and night. Relieve your mind from the cares and worries of this world. • Eat a balanced meal 3 times a day. Ensure fruits and vegetables are in your diet. • Exercise daily by walking, jumping rope, or any other cardio routines. • Get plenty of vitamin D or sunlight. Lack of vitamin D has been linked to depression. • See your doctor annually to check your physical and mental health. • Seek medical help from a psychiatrist or psychologist if necessary. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPA) will help maintain your confidentiality.

Mental Health and African Americans By Rhonda Dallas

Contributing Writer

hen I was growing up in Chicago, Illinois, there was always a friend who had a relative who never came out of the room, and we were always afraid to go back there. We were told they were born like that or old and senile, and we were not to bother them. But now as I have studied mental health in the African American community, we should have sought out help for them. May is National Mental Health Month, and we need to recognize as a culture the importance of defining mental health and the signs of a good and poor mental health state. Below are

• Poverty level affects mental health status. African Americans living below the poverty level, as compared to those over twice the poverty level, are 3 times more likely to report psychological distress. • African Americans are 20% more likely to report having serious psychological distress than Non-Hispanic Whites. • Non-Hispanic Whites are more than twice as likely to receive antidepressant prescription treatments as are Non-Hispanic Blacks. • The death rate from suicide for African American men was almost four times that for African American women, in 2015. • However, the suicide rate for African Americans is 60% lower than that of the Non-Hispanic White population.

• A report from the U.S. Surgeon General found that from 1980 - 2014, the suicide rate among African Americans ages 10 to 14 increased 233%, as compared to 120% of Non-Hispanic

Source Used: minorityhealth.hhs.gov A certified health and wellness life coach can help you with a healthy lifestyle. Contact Rhonda Dallas at rhondadallascoaching@gmail.com for your coaching session. Get started today!

Novel Gene Alteration Associates with Aggressive Prostate Cancer in African American Men By d-mars.com News Provider

hen it comes to the latest in biotechnology, ScienceDaily is a great source for information. It is well established that prostate cancer is more prevalent in African American men when compared to men of other ethnicities. There has been a premise that a combination of genetics, lifestyle, nutritional and medical access reasons led to the significant statistical difference. However, in their study titled, "A Novel Genomic Alteration of LSAMP associates with Aggressive Prostate Cancer in African American Men," published in EBioMedicine, researchers from Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, DoD's Joint Pathology Center (JPC), Dana-Farber Cancer Research Institute (DFCI), Genomatix GmbH and CytoTest, Inc., found some distinct genomic variations that also could be to blame. The genes studied were those associated with early stages of prostate cancer development and progression. In African American men with rapid disease progression, researchers, co-led by Drs. Shiv Srivastava (USU), Albert Dobi (USU) and Matthew Freedman (DFCI), noted

that a tumor suppressor gene, LSAMP, was missing from a key chromosome. The authors contend that this might, in part, explain some of the more aggressive cancers seen in African American men. In contrast, Caucasian men with similar types of prostate cancers showed much lower frequency of LSAMP alterations but higher frequency of two widely studied prostate cancer driver genes, ERG and PTEN. The USU, Walter Reed-Bethesda and JPC collaborative team, through comprehensive evaluations of matched cohorts of African American and Caucasian American prostate cancers, previously established a higher frequency of ERG alterations in Caucasians (50-70%) and its significantly lower frequency in African Americans (20-25%). These in-

triguing observations actually provided the rational for the current study focusing on whole genome evaluations of prostate cancers from these two patient populations. These findings reveal differentially distributed somatic mutations in prostate cancer across ancestral groups, and affirms the need for future evaluations of cancer genomes in global context with important implications for precision medicine strategies. "This highly collaborative study was made possible due to complementary expertise of investigators from different institutions. Equally significant were long-term biospecimen banks and multi-center database of the Center for Prostate Disease Research (CPDR) at USU and Walter Reed-Bethesda that comprises a high proportion (25%) of African American men treated for prostate cancer in the equal access Military Healthcare System. The new emerging knowledge on ethnicity-associated differences of the prostate cancer genome and perhaps other cancers needs more research and has promising potential to enhance the repertoire of new biomarkers and therapeutic targets that may benefit all patients," said Srivastava. "Given the recent availability of next-generation sequencing opportunities at USU, we will be able to accelerate our research in this direction."

For more, please visit ScienceDaily at www.sciencedaily.com.

Story Source: The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU).

Journal Reference: Gyorgy Petrovics, Hua Li, Tanja Stümpel, Shyh-Han Tan, Denise Young, Shilpa Katta, Qiyuan Li, Kai Ying, Bernward Klocke, Lakshmi Ravindranath, Indu Kohaar, Yongmei Chen, Dezső Ribli, Korbinian Grote, Hua Zou, Joseph Cheng, Clifton L. Dalgard, Shimin Zhang, István Csabai, Jacob Kagan, David Takeda, Massimo Loda, Sudhir Srivastava, Matthias Scherf, Martin Seifert, Timo Gaiser, David G. McLeod, Zoltan Szallasi, Reinhard Ebner, Thomas Werner, Isabell A. Sesterhenn, Matthew Freedman, Albert Dobi, Shiv Srivastava. A novel genomic alteration of LSAMP associates with aggressive prostate cancer in African American men. EBioMedicine, 2015; 2 (12): 1957 DOI:10.1016/j.ebiom.2015.10.028 Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU). (2016, January 11). Novel gene alteration associates with aggressive prostate cancer in African American men. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 30, 2016 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160111153220.htm

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May 2016 11

Concussion Outcomes Differ Among Football Players from Youth to College By d-mars.com News Provider

cienceDaily is a great source for biotechnology news and the latest research news. Concussions in high school football had the highest average number of reported symptoms and high school football players had the highest proportion of concussions with a return-to-play time of at least 30 days compared with youth and college players, according to an article published online by JAMA Pediatrics. About 3 million youth, 1 million high school and about 100,000 college athletes play American football each year. Concerns remain about sports-related concussions, which can present with emotional, cognitive, somatic and sleeprelated symptoms and impairments. Zachary Y. Kerr, Ph.D., M.P.H., of the Datalys Center for Sports Injury Research and Prevention, Indianapolis, and coauthors analyzed data from three injury surveillance programs to compare sports-related concussion outcomes (symptoms and return to play) in youth, high school and college football athletes. During the 2012 to 2014 seasons, the 1,429 sports-related concussions re-

cols, athlete training management and athlete disclosure. Given the many organizational, social environmental and policy-related differences at each level of competition that were not measured in this study, further study is warranted to validate our findings," the study concludes.

ported among youth, high school and college football players had an average of 5.48 symptoms. The most commonly reported symptoms were headache, dizziness and difficulty concentrating. About 15 percent of concussions resulted in return to play at least 30 days after an injury but 3 percent resulted in return to play less than 24 hours after an injury, according to the results.

For more, please visit ScienceDaily at www.sciencedaily.com.

Study results also indicate: • Concussions in high school football had the highest average number of reported symptoms (5.6) followed by college (5.56) and youth (4.76). • High school football players had the highest proportion of concussions with return to play of at least 30 days (19.5 percent) followed by youth (16.3 percent) and college football players (7.0 percent) • Youth athletes had the highest proportion of concussions with return to play of less than 24 hours (10.1 percent) followed by college (4.7 percent) and high school athletes (0.8 percent). The authors note the findings of football players returning to play less than 24 hours after an injury could be the result of athletes presenting with delayed concussion symptoms, disagreement between athletic train-

Story Source: The above post is reprinted from materials provided by The JAMA Network Journals.

Journal Reference:

ers and physicians, or the difficulty of youth in reporting symptoms. "Differences in concussion-related outcomes existed by level of competition and may be attributable to genetic, biologic, and/or developmental differences or level-specific variations in concussion-related policies and proto-

Zachary Y. Kerr, Scott L. Zuckerman, Erin B. Wasserman, Tracey Covassin, Aristarque Djoko, Thomas P. Dompier. Concussion Symptoms and Return to Play Time in Youth, High School, and College American Football Athletes. JAMA Pediatrics, 2016; DOI:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2016.0073 The JAMA Network Journals. (2016, May 2). Concussion outcomes differ among football players from youth to college. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 3, 2016 from www.sciencedaily.com/ releases/2016/05/160502131223.htm

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May 2016

Strengthening for Seniors

By Dr. Sterling L. Carter

Contributing Writer

uscular strength is a muscle's ability to generate force. The purpose of strength training is to increase muscle and connective tissue size, density, and toughness. Bigger muscles and stronger connective tissues are less likely to be injured. Strength training will also improve function - or the ability to get out of a chair, climb stairs, walk, and maintain balance.

STRENGTHENING MYTHS There are many myths associated with strengthening exercise and unfortunately, they may discourage you from participating in activities that can improve your quality of life. Myth 1 - Seniors cannot improve their strength. Wrong! It is completely possible for older people to double or triple their strength in 3-4 months. Can you imagine what you could do if you were twice as strong as you are now?

Myth 2 - Seniors should not do any strength training. Wrong! Seniors need strength training more than any other age group. As you age you lose strength, muscle mass, and function. The great news is that you can recover much of it. You can also improve your strength in as little as two weeks. Myth 3 - Seniors should only participate in low intensity exercise. Wrong again! There are good studies that demonstrate that exercises at higher intensities are safe and more effective. The key is that the resistance must be enough to challenge your muscles. Myth 4 - Seniors with health problems should not participate in strength training. You guessed it - wrong again! Resistance training is appropriate for seniors with many health problems and in some cases, may be preferred over aerobic exercise. It is important to consult your physician and physical therapist. I hope you are convinced that you can and should participate in a strength training program. It is almost a sure thing that you will improve your quality of life. To avoid injury, individualized instruction is necessary. You must use the appropriate resistance and good form to maximize benefits and avoid injury during strength training. Please consult your physical therapist for more information. For more on Dr. Sterling L. Carter, PT, DPT, MS, CSCS, please visit www. sterlingtherapy.com.

Nursing Shortage Creates Career Opportunities at Senior Living Communities By d-mars.com News Provider

ith nearly 8 million Americans still unemployed, it may be difficult to imagine a labor shortage is on the horizon. Yet many labor experts predict the health care industry is headed in that direction — and older adults may be one of the groups that will suffer the most if a shortage does occur as forecasted. “The potential lack of nurses in assisted living communities is particularly concerning,” says Kim Estes, senior vice president of clinical services for Brookdale Senior Living. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that by 2022, American health care facilities will need 1 million more nurses than there will be nurses practicing. At the same time, people 65 and older will account for 16 percent of the population, according to the U.S. Census Bureaus. With 85 percent of seniors having at least one chronic medical condition, and more than two-thirds having at least two, seniors are the age group most in need of care. Any labor shortage, however, can have a silver lining for those who are willing to train for the understaffed market and

pursue available jobs where the need is greatest. “The nursing shortage, aging population and rising incidence of chronic conditions are creating a perfect storm of opportunity for nurses who want to go into caring for those in assisted living,” Estes says. “Many nurses don’t

think about going into senior living as a career path because it’s not a typical hospital or doctor’s office position, but it can be very rewarding. Rather than treating a patient and moving onto another patient, assisted living gives nurses the opportunity to build long-lasting relationships and enrich the lives of resi-

dents and their families.” Brookdale’s assisted living communities hire nurses as health and wellness directors. They oversee all clinical services within a community including managing care associates, setting standards, and leading health and wellness programming. Rather than providing daily hands-on care, these nurses shape the overall quality and content of care their community’s seniors receive on a daily basis. The work offers opportunity to advance to higher-level leadership positions at the district, regional and corporate level which pay significantly more than a typical hospital or physician’s office job. Some healthcare providers are taking action to combat the looming nursing shortage, offering support, training and assistance to people interested in entering the profession. For example, Brookdale is launching a student loan reimbursement program hoping to attract more nurses to work in assisted living. “Whether you’re already working as a nurse, or are considering a career in nursing, working in a senior living community can be professionally, personally and financially rewarding,” Estes says. To learn more about job opportunities at Brookdale Senior Living, visit www. brookdalecareers.com. – BPT

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May 2016

Healthy Lunch Ideas Eating healthy doesn’t have to be boring. Enjoy making these healthy and delicious lunch recipes. They will fit nicely into a balanced and healthy diet. Photos and Recipes Courtesy of CookingLight.com Vegetable photos from istock.com

Curried Chicken Salad with Apples and Raisins Roasted Red Pepper Spread Sandwiches

Chipotle Pork and Avocado Wrap

Ingredients • • • •

1/4 cup low-fat mayonnaise 1 teaspoon curry powder 2 teaspoons water 1 cup chopped skinless, boneless Grilled Lemon-Herb Chicken (about 4 ounces) • 3/4 cup chopped Braeburn apple (about 1 small) • 1/3 cup diced celery • 3 tablespoons raisins • 1/8 teaspoon salt

Ingredients • 1/2 cup finely chopped seeded cucumber • 1 (7-ounce) bottle roasted red bell peppers, drained and finely chopped • 3/4 cup (6 ounces) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened • 1/3 cup (about 3 ounces) block-style fat-free cream cheese, softened • 3 tablespoons minced red onion • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 1 garlic clove, minced • 8 (1 1/2-ounce) slices whole-grain bread • 8 romaine lettuce leaves

Preparation

Spread cucumber and bell peppers onto several layers of heavy-duty paper towels; let stand 5 minutes to drain excess moisture. Scrape into a medium bowl using a rubber spatula. Add the cheeses, onion, salt, and garlic; stir with a fork until well blended. Spread about 1/2 cup cheese mixture over 4 bread slices; top each serving with 2 lettuce leaves and 1 bread slice.

Preparation

Combine mayonnaise, curry powder, and water in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk until well blended. Add the Grilled Lemon-Herb Chicken, chopped apple, celery, raisins, and salt; stir mixture well to combine. Cover and chill.

Ingredients • • • •

1/2 cup mashed peeled avocado 1 1/2 tablespoons low-fat mayonnaise 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice 2 teaspoons chopped canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano • 4 (8-inch) fat-free flour tortillas • 1 1/2 cups (1/4-inch-thick) slices cut Simply Roasted Pork (about 8 ounces) • 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce • 1/4 cup bottled salsa

Preparation

Combine the first 7 ingredients, stirring well. Warm tortillas according to package directions. Spread about 2 tablespoons avocado mixture over each tortilla, leaving a 1-inch border. Arrange Simply Roasted Pork slices down center of tortillas. Top each tortilla with 1/4 cup shredded lettuce and 1 tablespoon salsa, and roll up.

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May 2016

National Student Nurses Day

The Student Speaks

By Tiffany Davis

Co-Publisher

ational Nurses Week begins each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th, Florence Nightingale’s birthday. Why is Florence Nightingale so valuable to our history of nursing and empowering to up and coming healthcare providers? Florence Nightingale came from a wealthy family, but lived her dream as a nurse. She changed the profession of nursing forever. Nursing was once an occupation with little respect. People didn’t think you needed any special training or skills to do it, and most nurses were poor and uneducated. It was very unusual for Florence, who came from the upper class, to work in a hospital. The hospital conditions were more sanitary after she reorganized everything. Funds and donations flooded into hospitals, and the patients received better care. Hospitals around the world were changed forever, and caring for the sick became an honorable profession. May 8th was designated as National Student Nurses Day, to be celebrated annually. It is just as important to recognize students in nursing as it is to recognize those in the working profession. The d-mars.com Health & Wellness Journal understands the value of reaching out to the community of student nurses for National Nurses Week. Being a proud alumni of Prairie View A&M University, it was a pleasure to speak with students and celebrate those who have excelled in grades and achievement. My heart was filled with joy as I rode the elevators to hear the chatter of students, seeing backpacks on their shoulders, and seeing emotion on their faces after passing final exams. The life of a nursing student can be scary. It was great to share with those students that I too had anxiety, but overcame. I encouraged them that if I overcame, they can as well. One of the Prairie View A&M nursing students, Morgan Lewis, shared with me her experience as a nursing student. This interview is to make the community aware of the heart of a nursing student. It is our goal to create

a space in the community for us to hear not only students, but to hear from the future generation of nursing professionals. Dr. Betty Adams, Dean of PVAMU College of Nursing and Dr. Forest Smith work diligently to assure the success of the students on the campus.

Interviewwith withPrairie PrairieView ViewA&M Interview A&M Nursing Student: Nursing Student: Morgan Lewis (Semester III –

Morgan Junior) Lewis (Semester III – Junior) How do you balance school, work, and grades? Time management is of the utmost importance. I’m intentional about making time for social activities. Also, I’m responsible when it comes to choosing the right study group or study buddy. It is important to have that strong support system. Study buddies should complement your style of studying, and that time should be dedicated to studying and not being sociable.

How does being in the medical center impact your education? Prairie View A&M University is in the Medical Center, and it makes it easier to stay connected to what is trending not only in the medical profession, but in the nursing profession as well. It makes looking for a job easier, giving me the ability to network and meet those established medical professionals. I also use it as an encouragement tool to finish school and complete the journey. Do you think working in a hospital during school is helpful? I absolutely think working in the medical field is a positive. I am a Nutrition Technician at the Women’s Hospital. It keeps me in the healthcare circle, giving me the training necessary to succeed in the profession. It is great for building the resume and showing employers that you have the skills and work ethic to make it in the profession.

What area are you going into after graduation? I am looking at the different areas of nursing that I can go into, but I do have a couple of interests already. Currently, I would like to pursue a career in the mental health arena and the ER. I have a passion for the area of mental health, being that my mother has been a social worker for over 20 years. Observing my mother over the years, watching her serve clients has greatly influenced my thoughts. The emergency room is a fast-paced environment. It is an area that strikes me, because I love learning in fast-paced environments. How can we as a community better prepare you for your nursing career and success? Create avenues and environments for us to have exposure in the nursing profession. Bring those in the nursing arena to our campus for job training and job placement opportunities. If you desire to be a business owner, does the university prepare you for entrepreneurship? Yes, Prairie View gives us great exposure and experiences. They allow us to see different areas of nursing, which strikes our areas of interest. What advice can you give a future student? Stay focused. Go with your heart and passion. Don’t worry about what others say. If I would have listened to people, I would have quit school out of fear of failing. Be the best you, and trust God for the rest. I encouraged Morgan to continue the journey, and to live in the words of Alex Noble, “Success is a process, quality of mind and way of being, an outgoing affirmation of life.”

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d-mars.com Health & Wellness Journal

Celebrates

Black Nurses

for National Nurses

Week 2016 Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

May 2016

National Nurses

Culture of Safety: tors inf luencing the outcomes of patient care (Nightingale, 1859). It is important that nurses work to continue these traditions by strengthening the nurse-patient relationship and diligently using research findings, so as to provide safe care for patients.

By Tiffany Davis Co-Publisher

ational Nurses Week begins each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th, Florence Nightingale’s birthday. National Nurses Week is an established and nationally recognized event. As of 1998, May 8th was designated as National Student Nurses Day to be celebrated annually. As of 2003, National School Nurse Day is celebrated on the Wednesday within National Nurses Week each year. International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world on May 12th of each year. The theme for National Nurses Week in 2016 is Culture of Safety: It Starts with YOU. The d-mars.com Health & Wellness Journal and E-PIC Training Center, Inc. are excited to celebrate nurses not only for one week, but to expand our celebration for the entire month of May. The healthcare industry depends on nurses to serve for the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities; prevention of illness and injury; alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human responses; and advocacy in health care for individuals, families, communities, and populations. Patient safety is an essential and vital component of quality nursing care. However, like anything else, the nation’s healthcare system is prone to errors. Errors can be detrimental to a patient’s care. As nurses, we are individuals in a large pool of other healthcare providers. Ultimately, we must protect each other and our patients to ensure safe environments and practices. Nursing is a knowledge-based profession. The basis for the scientific practice of nursing includes nursing science; the biomedical, physical, economic, behavioral and social sciences; ethics; and philosophy. A nurse’s ability to be a critical thinker and to use this knowledge in the delivery of nursing care is essential to the well-being and safety of those for whom nurses care (ANA, 2003b; Ballard, 2002).

Nursing History History Nursing Early in nursing history, Florence Nightingale advocated for safe care. She proposed that nurses through their practice had to put the patient in the best condition possible for nature to act upon the patient. In discussing contemporary nursing practice, The American Nurses Association (ANA) states that an essential feature of nursing is the provision of a caring relationship that facilitates health and healing (ANA, 2003a). In the Crimea, Nightingale conducted some of the earliest nursing studies on fac-

Nursing Standards Nursing Standards Laws, rules, and standards can also enhance safe care. Nurses are held accountable to follow the laws, regulations, and rules of the licensing authority and the standards and ethics of the profession as promulgated by the various nursing associations. These laws, rules, and standards include meeting educational requirements, maintaining competence in practice, and refraining from engaging in any acts of professional misconduct such as abusing a patient; practicing incompetently, fraudulently or while impaired; failing to document appropriately; revealing personally identifiable information about a patient; and inappropriately delegating professional acts (Ballard, 2002). It is a nurse’s professional responsibility to remain safe and competent by being a lifelong learner. It is important to make informed choices about educational and clinical advancement and specialty certification. Educational choices can include continuing education courses or advanced degree programs. Clinical advancement can include becoming an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), such as a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetist, or nurse midwife, or deciding to specialize in a particular field of nursing through continuing education and/or clinical practice. Professional nurses can demonstrate proficiency and expertise in the practice of nursing by seeking certification in a clinical area (such as pediatrics, medical-surgical, or psychiatric-mental health) or in a specific role (such as administrator, informatics specialist, or staff development educator). Certification generally requires completion of an accredited educational program in the specialty, recommendations from professional colleagues, and passing a certification examination administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or a specialty nursing association.

Types of Types ofNurses Nurses&& Areas of Nursing Areas of Nursing The common thread uniting different types of nurses who work in varied areas is the nursing process (Assessment, Diagnosis, Outcome/ Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation) — the essential core of practice for the registered nurse is to deliver holistic, patient-focused care. The nursing profession provides a wide range of

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May 2016 19

Week 2016

It Starts with YOU

jobs and opportunities. There are many different types of nurses and nursing positions. Registered Nurse (RN) - RNs practice in all healthcare settings: hospitals, nursing homes, medical offices, ambulatory care centers, community health centers, schools, and retail clinics. They also provide health care in more surprising locations such as camps, homeless shelters, prisons, sporting events, and tourist destinations. Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) - Licensed practical nurses (LPNs), also known as licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) in California and Texas, complement the healthcare team by providing basic and routine care consistent with their education under the direction of a RN, APRN, or MD/DO in a variety of settings. Agency Nurse - Agency Nurses, as opposed to traditional nurses, work on an availability basis, announcing the hours in which they will be able to work and signing up for shifts that fit within those ranges. Since they work for an agency, rather than a specific hospital, their jobs often shift from place to place. Ambulatory Care Nurse - Ambulatory Care Nurses take care of temporary patients who reside in hospitals for twenty-four hours or less. Since the patients who fit this description vary quite a bit, these types of nurses work with a number of different injuries and illnesses, rather than specializing in one region. Nurse Entrepreneurs - Nurse Entrepreneurs use their nursing education and business background to start ventures within the healthcare industry— establishing, promoting and running their own companies. Some develop medical devices, training centers, computerized systems, or home health products. To set out on your own as a Nurse Entrepreneur, some key skills to have but not limited includes: creativity, business savvy, ability to find clients, establish a marketing/strategy team, as well as a consistent customer base. Nurse Anesthetists - Nurse Anesthetists obtained a Master’s degree and/or certification to assists doctors in a wide variety of settings, including the hospital room, surgery room, and dentist’s office. They provide the anesthesia to relieve or prevent the patient from feeling pain from the impending procedure. Cardiac Care Nurse - Cardiac Care Nurses work with many staff members, including various types of doctors, to monitor and regulate functions of the heart in patients. Cardiac patients often come in for one of quite a few different issues, ranging from less severe chest pain to the extremely severe heart attack. Case Management - Case Management Nurses focus more on the research aspect of healthcare, seeking to find the most efficient treatment process for patients. They work in labs and hospitals with

a group of patients, analyzing and assessing conditions, as well as testing potential treatment methods. Critical Care Nurse - Critical Care Nurses care for patients who are knocking on death’s door. These patients need immediate care, and if it is not provided, could result in fatal consequences. Emergency Nurse - Emergency Nurses work in the Emergency Room and treat patients who arrive at the hospital in critical condition. The environment tends to be quite a bit hectic, filled with doctors and nurses rushing from room to room in an attempt to make sure no one passes on their watch. Forensic Nurse - Forensic Nurses work with patients who have been involved and injured in violent crimes. They collect evidence regarding the misdemeanor and pass the information on to the police. In addition to this, Forensic Nurses also often work in the prison system. Gastroenterology Nurse - Gastroenterology Nurses treat patients with potentially detrimental gastrointestinal issues who require assistance in eliminating these problems. They work in a range of medical settings, including physician offices, inpatient and outpatient departments, and inpatient hospital units. Geriatric Nurse - Geriatric Nurses take care of the elderly in nursing homes, hospitals, or at the patient’s home. This particular type is very taxing on nurses since the elderly tend to become ill very often and rely on the nurses to help them meet all of their basic needs. Holistic Nurse - Holistic Nurses work with patients to provide care for the entirety of the patient, including both mind and body. They use therapeutic methods to improve the patient’s connection with emotions, spirit, interpersonal relationships, and surrounding environment. HIV/AIDS Nurse - HIV/AIDS Nurses care for terminal patients who have been diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus infection/ acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (more commonly referred to as HIV/AIDS) to lessen the severity of symptoms and help patients cope with the onset of this disease.

Nurse Informatics - Nurse Informatics is a field of nursing that heavily involves the use of computers. Nurses in this area create and enhance electronic medical programs to assist doctors and other nurses to better treat and care for their patients.

Other types of nurses: • Legal Nursing • Midwife • Military Nurse • Neonatal Nurse • Neuroscience Nurse • Nurse Practitioner • Occupational Health • Oncology Nurse • Pediatric Nurse • Psychiatric Nurse • Research Nurse • Transplant Nurse • School Nursing • Trauma Nurse • Travel Nursing • Urology • Woman’s Health

Being a nurse for over 16 years and President and CEO of E-PIC Training Center, Inc., this profession has given me satisfaction spiritually, mentally, physically, and financially. I encourage those in the healthcare arena and future nurses to reach for the sky, but always putting first the patient and care of our communities before the job. To find out more about E-PIC Training Center, Inc., please visit www.e-pictc.com. To find out more about the American Nurses Association, please visit w w w.nursing world. org.

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References: • Online Journal of Issues in Nursing • The American Nurses Association • Blog.udemy.com/ different-types-ofnurses

20â&#x20AC;&#x192;

May 2016

Celebrating

Leading

Nurses Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

Arcandrice Ratliff, RN, BSN, MSN

Irma G. Moses, MSN, RN

Teresa Davis Adigun, MBA, RN, OCN

Hazel T. Ramsey, RN, BSN

Tamika Lindsey, MS, APRN, FNP-C

Yolanda Evans, MBA, BSN, RN

Leslie Jones, BSN, RNC-OB

Reginald Whittington, APRN, FNP-BC, VA-BC

Title: Clinical Nurse Manager Practice Name/Organization: Houston Eye Associates Years of Practicing: 8 years

Title: Surgical Nurse Manager Practice Name/Organization: Museum District AestheticAmbulatory Surgery Center Years of Practicing: 25 years

Title: Clinical Nurse Manager Practice Name/Organization: Houston Methodist West Hospital, Birthing Center Years of Practicing: Over 20 years

Title: Interim Chief Nursing Officer Practice/Organization: Park Plaza Hospital Years of Practicing: 26 years

Title: Family Nurse Practitioner Practice Name/Organization: Exclusive Wellness & Aesthetics, PLLC Years of Practicing: 13 years

May 2016â&#x20AC;&#x192; 21

Title: Case Management Supervisor Practice Name/Organization: MD Anderson Cancer Center Years of Practicing: 20 years

Title: Director of Nursing Practice/Organization: Houston Methodist Hospital Years of Practicing: 12 years

Title: Administrative Nurse Practitioner Practice/Name of Organization: Harris County Public Health Years of Practicing: 11 years

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22â&#x20AC;&#x192;

May 2016

Celebrating 40s and 5

Ameerah Jackson, RN-BSN

Chamaine Barker, BSN, RNC-OB

Myishea Gilliam, RN, MA

Carlos Davis, BS, MS

Title: Nurse Clinician III Practice/Organization: Women and Infants Department at Ben Taub General Hospital Years of Practicing: 5 years

Title: Certified Medical Surgical Nurse Practice/Organization: MD Anderson Cancer Center Years of Practicing: 4 years

Title: Nurse Entrepreneur Practice/Organization: Healthcare Agencies Years of Practicing: Over 10 years

Title: Registered Nurse Practice Name/Organization: Harris Health System Years of Practicing: Over 10 years

Jamesia McDonald, RN-BSN

Title: Certified Navigator Breast Nurse Practice/Organization: Westside Surgical Hospital & Breast Center Years of Practicing: Over 10 years

Charrmpleaouss K. Adams-Saddler, RN-BSN

Title: Critical Care Nurse Practice Name/Organization: CHI St. Lukeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Years of Practicing: Over 10 years

Benita Monique Brown, Monique Banks, BSN, CCRN CCRN, CRNA, MSN Title: Registered Nurse Practice/Organization: MD Anderson Cancer Center Years of Practicing: 6 years

Title: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Practice/Organization: Compass Anesthesia Years of Practicing: 9 years

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Under Nurses

May 2016â&#x20AC;&#x192; 23

Highlighting Prairie View A&M University Nursing Students Keith Felder

Dr. LaKeisha Lovings

Title: Senior Oncology Clinical Consultant Practice/Organization: Genentech Years of Practicing: Over 10 years

Kenah Hagan, RN-BSN Title: Outpatient Hemodialysis Charge Nurse Practice/Organization: US Renal Care Years of Practicing: 8 years

Jana Young, RN-BSN Title: Pre-Assessment Nurse Practice/Organization: River Oaks of Oakbend Years of Practicing: Over 10 years

LaShonda Lee, RN-BSN Title: PACU Manager Practice/Organization: MD Anderson Cancer Hospital Years of Practicing: Over 10 years

Year: Graduation date is May 14, 2016 Area of Interest: Neurology Unit: MedicalSurgical or Intensive Care

Edirose Javier Year: Junior Area of Interest: Adult or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

Tomar Mills, RN-BSN

Title: Pre-OP/PACU Nurse Practice/Organization: MD Anderson Cancer Center Years of Practicing: 9 years

Tequia Babineaux Savage, RN

Title: Registered School Nurse Practice/Organization: Aldine ISD, Carver High School Years of Practicing: 6 years

Sharon D. Ibarra-Aguillon Year: Senior Area of Interest: MedicalSurgical/ Operating Room

Adaku Okoli Catina Leggington-Turner, Temeca Parker, RN-BSN RN-BSN, MPH Title: Postpartum Charge Nurse Practice/Organization: Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Services at Memorial Hermann Memorial City Years of Practicing: 6 years

Title: Infection Control Nurse Practice/Organization: Outpatient Surgery Center Years of Practicing: 10 years

Kecia Richardson, RN-BSN, MSN

Title: RN Care Manager Practice/Organization: Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center Years of Practicing: Over 10 years

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Year: Senior Area of Interest: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

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May 2016

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May 2016

5 Ways to Revamp Your Run By d-mars.com News Provider

Gather your running buddies

Running with friends is one of the best ways to stay motivated. Running with a buddy on a treadmill is fun as well, but an outdoor running pal or group can help the time and miles pass more quickly. Life Time destinations nationwide host Tuesday Night Social Runs with varying distances and they're complimentary for members and non-members. There's nothing like good conversation to keep you entertained during your workout. Running partners can be good pace setters as well and might even suggest some new running routes or trails you've never tried before.

ave you ever wished you could just snap your fingers and be able to run a marathon? If only it were that easy. Whether you're training for a race, want to get in shape or simply enjoy the rhythm of your feet hitting the pavement, running takes consistency and practice. "No matter where you fall on the running spectrum, there's always room for improvement," says Rebekah Mayer, National Run Training Manager for Life Time Fitness - The Healthy Way of Life Company. "If you're striving to become a better runner, you might need to make some changes or switch up your routine." Below are five tips from Mayer to help amp up your run so you can feel great while making each workout count:

Ease into your outdoor runs If you've been hitting the treadmill all winter and are just beginning to run outdoors, take it slow. Pavement is harder on your knees and joints than a treadmill belt, and your running form is a little different when you're outside on the ground. Start by taking some easy workouts outdoors, and then progress into harder workouts. By then, all the trails will be fully clear and your legs will have a chance to adapt.

Dress the part

Ditch the background noise

Make it memorable

Consider leaving your headphones at home. While music is essential to beat boredom on a treadmill, many runners come to enjoy the quiet solitude or group chatter when running outdoors, especially when you run with a friend. Without headphones, it's also easier to hear traffic, animals or approaching pedestrians. If music is absolutely necessary, try running with only one ear bud in.

Take the time to make some of your runs a little more interesting. Is there a trail system a short drive from your home or nearest health club? Even if it doesn't fit into your daily routine, doing some runs at a more scenic location every so often can make the miles much more enjoyable. Changing up your routine also helps keep your body challenged so you can continue to build strength and endurance.

If you run in the dark, choose reflective clothing and a headlamp for safety. On rainy days, add a water resistant jacket and a cap to keep water out of your eyes. This will make the weather more tolerable. If temperatures are cool, choose an outer layer you can easily remove if you get too warm. Life Time is a firm believer that the right pair of shoes can help prevent injury, so make sure you find a pair that works for your running style. Use these tips to make the most of each run or if you're one of the thousands of Americans who's currently training for a marathon, check out lifetimerun.com to sign up for a virtual or in-person run training plan. – BPT

Coping with the Stress of Natural Disasters M ay is Mental Health Month. Houston and the surrounding areas were recently hit by a historical flood. While some have recovered, many are trying to still make sense of what happened and deal with the stress of the situation. These events create a tremendous amount of stress and anxiety for those directly and indirectly affected. In the days and weeks following a disaster, you may begin to have some of these common reactions:

Common Reactions • Disbelief and shock • Fear and anxiety about the future • Disorientation; difficulty making decisions or concentrating • Apathy and emotional numbing • Nightmares and reoccurring thoughts about the event • Irritability and anger • Sadness and depression • Feeling powerless • Changes in eating patterns; loss of appetite or overeating • Crying for “no apparent reason” • Headaches, back pains and stomach problems

• Difficulty sleeping or falling asleep • Increased use of alcohol and drugs

Tips for Coping It is ‘normal’ to have difficulty managing your feelings after major traumatic events. However, if you don’t deal with the stress, it can be harmful to your mental and physical health. Here are some tips for coping in these difficult times: • Talk about it. By talking with others about the event, you can relieve stress and realize that others share your feelings. • Spend time with friends and family. They can help you through this tough time. If your family lives outside the area, stay in touch by phone. If you have any children, encourage them to

share their concerns and feelings about the disaster with you. • Take care of yourself. Get plenty of rest and exercise, and eat properly. If you smoke or drink coffee, try to limit your intake, since nicotine and caffeine can also add to your stress. • Limit exposure to images of the disaster. Watching or reading news about the event over and over again will only increase your stress. • Find time for activities you enjoy. Read a book, go for a walk, catch a movie or do something else you find enjoyable. These healthy activities can help you get your mind off the disaster and keep the stress in check. • Take one thing at a time. For people under stress, an ordinary workload can sometimes seem unbearable. Pick one urgent task and work on it. Once you accomplish that task, choose the next one. “Checking off” tasks will give you a sense of accomplishment and make things feel less overwhelming.

• Do something positive. Give blood, prepare “care packages” for people who have lost relatives or their homes or jobs, or volunteer in a rebuilding effort. Helping other people can give you a sense of purpose in a situation that feels ‘out of your control.’ • Avoid drugs and excessive drinking. Drugs and alcohol may temporarily seem to remove stress, but in the long run they generally create additional problems that compound the stress you were already feeling. • Ask for help when you need it. If your feelings do not go away or are so intense that they interfere with your ability to function in daily life, talk with a trusted relative, friend, doctor or spiritual advisor about getting help. Make an appointment with a mental health professional to discuss how well you are coping with the recent events. You could also join a support group. Don’t try to cope alone. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. For more information, please visit www.mentalhealthamerica.net.

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May 2016

Legal, Policy Changes Can Lead to Shifts in Use of Medical Marijuana

By d-mars.com News Provider

cienceDaily is a great source for biotechnology news and the latest research news. A Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health analysis of registered medical marijuana users found that a hodgepodge of law and policy changes since 2001 had varying effects on the number of people consuming what in many states remains an otherwise illegal drug for its purported health benefits. The findings, published online in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, suggest a possible "participation elasticity" that could inform future discussions around medical marijuana provisions at both the state and federal level. Medical marijuana is legal to varying degrees in 23 states and the District of Columbia. In one finding, researchers determined that medical marijuana use in the states of Colorado, Montana and Michigan rose dramatically in 2009 when the federal government announced that it was making medical marijuana prosecutions a low priority. (In the previous administration, the federal government prosecuted medical marijuana users along with recreational users, since marijuana was -- as it is today -- against federal law.) By contrast, medical marijuana participation rose little in states the expressly prohibited dispensaries, such as Alaska, Rhode Island and Vermont. The federal policy change led to an increase in the number of medical marijuana dispensaries, which may have led to an increase in medical marijuana participation. When Colorado and Montana responded with regulations aimed at limiting dispensaries, their numbers fell, as did the number of medical marijuana registrants in these states. "At one point, it seemed like there were

more dispensaries than Starbucks in some cities," says study author Brian Fairman, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in the Bloomberg School's Department of Mental Health. "Then when the number of dispensaries dropped, so did the number of registrants. Interestingly, after Colorado legalized recreational marijuana use, the rates of medical marijuana participation held steady, perhaps because sales taxes are lower for medical marijuana, so it's more affordable." California became the first state to allow medical marijuana use in 1996. Since then, another 22 states and the District of Columbia approved medical marijuana use. An estimated 2.7 million people use medical marijuana, according to data based on a household survey from the U.S. National Survey on Drug Use and Health. However, state registries log only about 440,000 medical marijuana users, in part because registration is voluntary in some states, including California, so many patients do not register. The rules governing the practice vary from state to state, with some allowing dispensaries and some not and some only allowing cannabis that is ingested (versus smoked or inhaled). Most patients who use medical marijuana do so for pain relief. For this analysis, only 13 states, along with the District of Columbia, with medical marijuana registries that had data avail-

able over time were included. The states analyzed were Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Other findings include: • Among the eight states that report differences by age, medical marijuana patients under the age 18 make up less than 1 percent of medical marijuana patients. However, since June 2013 the number of minor patients in Colorado has increased significantly, possibly due to parents moving to the state to take advantage of the state's dispensary market. • In most states with available data, medical marijuana participants tend to be in their 50s, which is consistent with the "baby boomer" generation that had high rates of marijuana use during the mid1970s. However, Colorado and Arizona have larger proportions of medical marijuana participants between the ages of 18 and 30. • In states that report differences in medical marijuana by gender, men are more likely than women to register for medical marijuana, -- between 60 and 70 percent are men -- but there is evidence that women may be catching up over time. The benefits of medical marijuana are lit-

tle understood, largely because there is scant research, which is complicated by required clearance from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. "Marijuana policy is at a crossroads," Fairman says. "It's especially important that policymakers and the public understand what might contribute to trends in medical marijuana use, considering the number of people who seek it for chronic pain and also how it might interplay with recreational use as more states legalize recreational marijuana." "Trends in registered medical marijuana participation across 13 U.S. states and District of Columbia" was written by Brian J. Fairman, PhD. The author acknowledges funding support by the National Institutes of Health under the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (T32DA007292) from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Story Source: The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. For more, please visit www.sciencedaily.com

Journal Reference: Brian J. Fairman. Trends in registered medical marijuana participation across 13 US states and District of Columbia. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 2015; DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.11.015 Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. (2016, January 20). Legal, policy changes can lead to shifts in use of medical marijuana: Use increased in states with dispensaries after 2009 federal policy change; changes in state laws saw varying responses. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 3, 2016 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160120122806.htm

First Computer Program Developed to Detect DNA Mutations in Single Cancer Cells By d-mars.com News Provider HOUSTON - Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have announced a new method for detecting DNA mutations in a single cancer cell versus current technology that analyzes millions of cells which they believe could have important applications for cancer diagnosis and treatment. The results are published in the April 18 online issue of Nature Methods. Existing technology, known as nextgeneration sequencing (NGS), measures genomes derived from millions of cells versus the newer method for single-cell sequencing, called Monovar. Developed by MD Anderson researchers, Monovar allows scientists to examine data from multiple single cells. The study was, in part, funded by MD Anderson’s Moon Shots Program, an unprecedented effort to significantly reduce deaths from cancer.

“NGS technologies have vastly improved our understanding of the human genome and its variation in diseases such as cancer,” said Ken Chen, Ph.D., assistant professor of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology and co-author of the Nature Methods article. “However, because NGS measures large numbers of cells, genomic variations within tissue samples are often masked.” This led to development of newer technology, called single cell sequencing (SCS), that has had a major impact in many areas of biology, including cancer research, neurobiology, microbiology, and immunology, and has greatly improved understanding of certain tumor characteristics in cancer. Monovar improves further on the new SCS’s computational tools which scientists found “lacking” by more accurately detecting slight alterations in DNA makeup known as single nucleotide variants (SNVs). “To improve the SNVs in SCS datasets,

we developed Monovar,” said Nicholas Navin, Ph.D., assistant professor of Genetics and co-author of the paper. “Monovar is a novel statistical method able to leverage data from multiple single cells to discover SNVs and provides highly detailed genetic data.” Chen and Navin state that Monovar will have significant translational applications in cancer diagnosis and treatment, personalized medicine and pre-natal genetic diagnosis, where the accurate detection of SNVs is critical for patient care. This refinement of an existing technology could very well boost studies in many biomedical fields other than just cancer. The researchers believe it is a major advance for assessing SNVs in SCS datasets – crucial information for a variety of diseases. “With the recent innovations in SCS methods to analyze thousands of single cells in parallel with RNA analysis

which will soon be extended to DNA analysis, the need for accurate DNA variant detection will continue to grow,” said Chen. “Monovar is capable of analyzing large-scale datasets and handling different whole-genome protocols, therefore it is well-suited for many types of studies. Other research team members included Yong Wang, Ph.D., Genetics, and Hamim Zafar, Ph.D. and Luay Nakhleh, Ph.D., Rice University, Houston. The study was funded by an MD Anderson Moon Shot Knowledge Gap Award, the National Institutes of Health (CA016672 and R21CA174397), the National Cancer Institute (RO1 CA172652 and RO1CA169244-01), the Andrew Sabin Family Fellowship, the Lefkofsky Family Foundation, The Bosarge Family Foundation, the H.A. and Mary K. Chapman Charitable Foundations, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, and an Agilent University Relations Grant.

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A Better Way to Manage Type 2 Diabetes By d-mars.com News Provider

or people with diabetes, keeping blood sugar levels within normal range is key to preventing other conditions commonly associated with the disease, including cardiovascular disease, kidney failure and blindness. Yet daily life can make it extremely challenging - food, exercise, hormones and stress, among other things, can have an impact. Dan’elle Whorton of Dayton, Ohio, knows how hard it can be to control blood sugar. When she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes four years ago, she tried a number of different diabetes medications prescribed by her doctor, including insulin injections. While multiple daily injections of insulin were helpful, Whorton had to inject so frequently that she couldn’t keep up. “My blood sugar was still in 400500s,” Whorton says. “I couldn’t inject myself enough to regulate my blood sugar.” The target range for blood sugar levels for people with diabetes is 100-180. Whorton’s blood sugar was so high she had to be hospitalized, so her doctor recommended she start using an insulin pump. An insulin pump is an externallyworn, computerized device about the size of a deck of cards that continuously delivers small, precise amounts of insulin - a hormone that helps the body use sugar for energy to act much like a healthy pancreas. When using a pump, a person is able to stop taking long-acting insulin shots. On the pump, they have more flexibility in their life, including being able to go on outings without worrying about injections. By pressing a couple of buttons on the pump, a person can administer extra insulin at meal

time (called a bolus). While people who use injections must give themselves four to six shots per day, with a pump they only have to insert an infusion set once every three days. People with type 1 diabetes have used insulin pumps to manage their blood sugar levels for more than 30 years, and the benefits of insulin pump therapy for type 1 patients are well-proven. Now a new study in Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism has shown that using an insulin pump can help people with type 2 diabetes control their

blood sugar. “Many people with type 2 diabetes have difficulty controlling their blood sugar, despite eating right and taking their insulin injections as prescribed by their doctors,” says Dr. Ronnie Aronson, lead of LMC Diabetes & Endocrinology in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. “This study showed that insulin pumps provide a significant advantage over multiple daily injections of insulin, providing superior blood sugar control.”

In the first six months of the study, participants with type 2 diabetes on insulin pump therapy demonstrated a nearly two and a half times greater reduction in mean A1C (an average measure of blood sugar levels over three months) than participants using multiple daily injections (1.1 percent versus only 0.4 percent, respectively, compared to the baseline). In the second six months, all participants used insulin pumps and achieved an A1C reduction of 1.2 percent compared to the baseline and reduced total daily insulin dose by approximately 19 percent at the 12-month mark. A decrease in A1C aids tremendously in preventing long-term complications of diabetes. “While some people think that if you use insulin pump therapy that you’ve failed in managing your type 2 diabetes, I’m living proof of what success looks like,” says Whorton. With her MiniMed 530G insulin pump on her side, Whorton has increased peace of mind knowing that her blood sugar is under control. “My insulin pump has saved my life more times than I can imagine, and it has also given me my life back,” she adds. “I’m more mobile and go out more now that I don’t have to carry my injection supplies with me. My insulin pump has made it more convenient to live with diabetes.” To learn more about the MiniMed 530G with Enlite and insulin pump therapy, visit www.medtronicdiabetes.com. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: MiniMed 530G with Enlite requires a prescription and should only be used under direction of a qualified healthcare professional. Please visit www.medtronicdiabetes.com/isi for detailed safety information. – BPT

Certified Coders in High Demand Following ICD-10 Implementation By d-mars.com News Provider

ine years ago, Peter Esswein, a resident of Sandy Springs, Georgia, enrolled in a health information technology degree program at DeVry University to capitalize on the growing prominence of electronic medical records. "I always wanted to work in the medical industry, and the time was right for a personal career change," Esswein says. "Completing my associate degree in health information technology gave me the confidence and skills I needed to progress on my new career path.'' Now, as Esswein continues his career as a coding quality assistant, health care is changing again. Following the release of a medical coding system overhaul in October 2015, expected updates in the

near future are underscoring the demand for coders. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision, or ICD-10, increased the number of medical codes by more than 50,000 - and in fiscal year 2017, about 5,500 more diagnostic and impatient procedure codes will roll out. "The new codes are designed to enable more informative, accurate recording of the medical information required to bill correctly for reimbursement," Esswein says. "In my role, it's essential that I not only understand ICD-10, but that I'm staying ahead of what's coming next to help alleviate any confusion in my workplace and mitigate mistakes in advance.''

Prepping for industry change Many health care organizations say transitioning to the new system was

their biggest challenge last year. While Esswein graduated years ago and is getting on-the-job training with the new system, many employers struggled to find qualified new technicians, since recent graduates had studied the previous classification system, ICD-9. To get these new grads up to speed, DeVry University offered an ICD-10 course at no cost for medical billing and coding graduates who had registered by November 2015 and students in their last semester of the program. All future courses will be taught using ICD-10 as the standard. "DeVry University programs will continue to evolve as healthcare advances and becomes more accessible in the United States," says Kristyn Murphy-Rodvill, assistant national dean in the College of Health Sciences at DeVry University. "We know finishing a degree program during an industry

transition can create obstacles for recent grads. Our ICD-10 course is designed to eliminate those barriers and prepare students with the skills and knowledge they need to be competitive in their field."

Propelling the future of health care Knowledgeable health information technology experts - from coders to technicians and managers - are projected to remain in high demand through 2022. Medical billing is projected to grow by 22 percent in this time period. "With the right education, the future is bright for healthcare professionals," says Murphy-Rodvill. "DeVry's programs are designed to help students grow their professional expertise, and remain at the forefront in their industry.'' – BPT

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Cervical Cancer Screening Saves Women’s Lives: What You Need to Know Before Your Next Annual Visit By d-mars.com News Provider

my “Sunshine” Rodriguez, 44, is a radio personality in West Hartford, Connecticut, who loves spending time at the shore enjoying the scenery and her family. The mother of two and grandmother of one found love at a young age and married her husband shortly after. Of the many tales to describe her “Sunshine” life, Rodriguez said she never thought a battle with cervical cancer would be among them. Now a survivor of cervical cancer, she said she was “completely blindsided” when she was diagnosed. “When my gynecologist called my office to tell me the news, I just didn’t know what to say,” Rodriguez recalls. “I was shocked.” Not too long ago, Rodriguez’s story would have been fairly common. Cervical cancer used to be the leading cause of cancer death among women. Today, however, it is one of the most preventable and rare cancers thanks largely to the introduction of the Pap test. Even with the introduction of Pap testing, 12,000 women, like Rodriguez, are still diagnosed with cervical cancer each year. New changes in medical guidelines may leave some

women confused about what to expect at their annual gynecological exams. “For years, women were told ‘Get your Pap smear every year,’ and so they think that’s all they need. But now we know that many cases of cervical cancer are caused by some strains of human papillomavirus, also known as HPV,” explains Barbara Dehn, a wellknown women’s health nurse practitioner and lecturer at Stanford University. “As such, screening for cervical cancer has evolved to include an HPV test in combination with a Pap test in women over 30, but women may not understand the importance of asking about both tests.” When Rodriguez first heard and asked about HPV testing, she was told that she didn’t need the test because she had married young and her risk for developing an HPV infection — and therefore cervical cancer — was low, which is a common misconception. The reality is, having a long-term sexual partner cannot necessarily protect a woman from developing cervical cancer. It’s not uncommon for women or their partners to contract HPV from an earlier sexual encounter, with the virus remaining dormant for years without causing any problems. As many women often do, Rodriguez skipped her regular visit to her health care provider for

a couple of years as she was healthy and young and didn’t think much of it. When Rodriguez did finally receive a Pap test after experiencing some symptoms, she was in disbelief when her results came back that she had cervical cancer. She resolved to not let the shock of her diagnosis or her subsequent surgeries and intensive treatments keep her down. She has committed herself to helping encourage women to take an active role in their cervical health. “I decided during treatment that as long as I’m alive and have a voice, I need to help other women,” she says. “No woman should go through what I went through and, thankfully, no woman has to as long as she’s getting appropriate screening.”

What’s recommended today Current “consensus guidelines” — screening recommendations created by a large group of recognized professional medical societies — recommend Pap+HPV Together as the preferred method for women ages 30 to 65. For women 21 to 29, guidelines recommend Pap-only testing. The Pap and HPV tests contribute important and distinct information to understanding each woman’s risk of cervical cancer. Recent research shows

that screening for cervical cancer with Pap+HPV Together detects more cancer and pre-cancer than either test used alone. Screening with HPV alone may put many women’s lives at risk.* “There is a lot of information about HPV and cervical cancer out there, and that is why a dialogue about what tests you need during your exam is so important,” Dehn emphasized. “The bottom line is that co-testing with Pap and HPV tests at the same time provides the best possible protection against cervical cancer in women over 30. And, just one sample is taken for the lab to screen with both tests.” Rodriguez also noted the power of having an informed discussion with a health care provider about screening options. “I can’t tell you how important it is to educate yourself on all of your options and what you need, even if it seems a little confusing,” she says. “’You have cervical cancer’ is a scary phrase for any woman to stomach. Effective screening can help ensure fewer women have to.” To learn more about screening with Pap+HPV Together, visit PapPlusHPV.com. – BPT

* A positive HPV screening result may lead to further evaluation with cytology and/or colposcopy.

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The Promise of Immunotherapy Is Transforming Cancer Treatment for Many Patients

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t age 28, the last thing Stephen Estrada expected was to be diagnosed with cancer, let alone Stage IV colorectal cancer. His outlook did not look good as his diagnosis came with a five-year survival rate of just 13 percent. Nevertheless, Estrada went forward with different treatments and ended up enrolling in a clinical trial. Now 30, Estrada’s disease is stable thanks to a new wave of cancer treatments called immunotherapies, and he is enjoying life in Denver, Colorado, with his partner, Kenley, and two dogs, Gretel and Joey. Colorectal cancer — which refers to cancer of the colon and/or rectum—is the third most common type of cancer among both men and women in the United States, and is the second deadliest. This type of cancer begins in the lining of the colon or rectum and in some cases, like Estrada’s, can spread into other organs and lymph nodes. Estrada received his diagnosis after a CT scan showed a “cancer-like mass” in his colon, which led to an emergency colon resection. After healing from his surgery, Estrada started a six-month medication regimen that combined two common types of treatment shown to improve survival for patients with colo-

rectal cancer. The combination regimen showed promise, shrinking Estrada’s tumor enough to qualify him for a special type of surgical procedure for tumors that might be otherwise inoperable or difficult to reach. However, the tumor surgery ended up being much more invasive than expected, and unfortunately the procedure failed. This led Estrada to search for and find other options, including a cancer immunotherapy clinical trial that was under way for colorectal cancer. He enrolled in June 2014.

How immunotherapy works This new class of treatment, immunotherapy, works by giving the immune system the upper hand in fighting cancer and restores its natural ability to eliminate cancer cells. Cancer immunotherapy has already demonstrated the potential to cure multiple types of cancer and offers long-term protection against disease with fewer side effects than standard cancer regimens. As of March 2016, there are more than 1,000 immunotherapy clinical trials under way in multiple cancer types, including brain cancer, head and neck cancer, and leukemia. “For more than 60 years, the Cancer Research Institute has driven innovative immunotherapy research,” said Dr. Jill

O’Donnell-Tormey, chief executive officer and director of scientific affairs at the Cancer Research Institute. “Now, we are seeing a practice-changing shift in cancer treatment and real cures, thanks to this critical research.” In Estrada’s case, his particular type of colorectal cancer, known as MSIhigh, has responded incredibly well to the cancer immunotherapy treatment, a checkpoint inhibitor, he received in the clinical trial. This type of immunotherapy has shown positive results in many different types of cancer and is currently approved by the FDA to treat advanced melanoma, lung can-

cer, and kidney cancer. “I think cancer immunotherapy, and the potential cure it offers, should be accessible to everyone. Being in a clinical trial has improved my life a million times over,” says Estrada. “Every cancer patient deserves the best, and it is important to do your own research on potential treatments, clinical trials, and to be your own advocate. Don’t take ‘no’ for an answer. Keep going, keep reading, keep asking questions.” “The results we are seeing in clinical trials with MSI-high colorectal patients are very encouraging, even more so because colorectal cancer has typically been harder to treat with immunotherapies,” said Dr. O’DonnellTormey. “As we continue to learn more about the specific genetic profiles of patients with colorectal cancer who respond better to immunotherapy, we come that much closer to providing real, lasting hope for people with this devastating disease.” There are many other cancer patients and survivors, like Estrada, who have been given new treatment options thanks to cancer immunotherapy and the researchers and institutions behind them. To learn more about Estrada’s story and how cancer immunotherapies are changing the face of cancer treatment, visit www.cancerresearch.org/crc/. – BPT

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